Hold leaders to their word on redistricting

For years there have been efforts to improve Pennsylvania’s system for drawing congressional districts in time for the 2022 election.

For years, efforts to improve Pa’s system for drawing congressional districts in time for 2022 election.

The goal is to eliminate the blatant role of political interests in putting together these maps, making the process more open to public observation and input, with leadership by independent, nonpartisan people.

But nothing has gained traction, and time is just about up for any change in the law.

Instead we have a promise of transparency from the lawmaker in charge of the state House committee that will be involved in the process. State Rep. Seth Grove, a York County Republican, said the State Government Committee will hold at least eight public meetings across the state and accept suggestions for the map through a new website.

Such changes could have had some teeth had they been backed by legislation. Unfortunately we’re going to have to take lawmakers at their word that they will do the right thing.

The circumstances surrounding this redistricting process should lead to a more fair outcome. Unlike a decade ago, one party doesn’t have total control of the process. The Republicans who control the Legislature will have to develop a plan that meets the approval of Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat.

And all parties are acting with the knowledge that the Supreme Court overturned the last congressional map and drew a new one. There’s a real possibility that the justices may step in again if things go awry.

Grove said he will kick off a series of regional meetings this month as lawmakers await census population data that will be required to begin the redistricting process. The public will be invited to offer their own maps.

Spotlight PA also reported that state residents will be able to comment on the current congressional map, which was drawn by the state Supreme Court in 2018, and define their “community of interest,” a basic principle in redistricting that involves deciding which areas to keep together.

That principle has not been applied to some parts of the state for a long time. Berks County is one of the most egregious examples.

The county has been treated as an afterthought, its communities sliced and diced with little regard to keeping them together.

From 2012 to 2018, the county was divided into four oddly shaped districts, each of which covered a tremendous expanse of territory. The Supreme Court’s new map was a slight improvement but still divided the county into three districts, leaving it on the geographic fringe of all of them.

We urge those involved in drawing the maps to keep this in mind. Their jobs is to draw compact and contiguous districts with a reasonable balance of Democrats, Republicans and independents. County and municipal lines can’t be the only consideration, but they do matter.

We urge residents to avail themselves of the opportunity to witness and play a role in this process. By doing so, they can make sure lawmakers live up to their word about doing this the right way.

Pennsylvania is losing a congressional seat once again, making this process particularly difficult. The delegation is divided evenly now. Come 2023, one party or the other will have an advantage. The best mapmakers can be expected to do is to try to keep districts as competitive as possible and let voters decide.

Remember that districts designed to the advantage of one party or the other have a terrible effect on our political discourse. Lawmakers in “safe” seats are less prone to compromise with colleagues across the political aisle or pay attention to the concerns of constituents who didn’t vote for them. Often such representatives veer toward the extremes of their parties to avoid a potentially devastating primary challenge. The result is gridlock.

The process will begin soon. We urge all involved to remember that the goal should be giving voters the best way to choose representatives who care about their communities, not trying to choose the voters who will give politicians the best chance of winning.